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Updated: Where to Get Free WiFi for Students During COVID-19

Refer your college students to these services to help them keep up with school work.

By Campus Technology Staff

05/12/20

(Updated May 12, 2020; originally published April 30, 2020) The latest reporting by the Federal Communications Commission found that the number of people lacking a connection of at least 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload was 21.3 million in the United States at the end of 2017. Some 4.3 million were in rural America or tribal lands. That translates to an untold number of college and university students living in homes without a broadband connection.

To help your institution reach students who may lack broadband connectivity, here's a list of wireless networking options they may be able to take advantage of. We've listed those that are available in more than just a handful of states first.

We developed the compilation by starting with a list of telecommunications companies that have signed the Federal Communications Commission's "Keep Americans Connected" pledge. Editors culled through the list specifically seeking information online about those companies that provided free service to students in their coverage areas and/or free public WiFi hotspots that students could access for some portion of each day while sitting in their cars or otherwise being physically isolated from others in the vicinity.

We will continue updating this list as information becomes available. If you know of other services not included on the list, please send details with a link to [email protected].

Large Companies

AT&T (national coverage): Working with qualified schools in its service areas to provide free, unlimited data plans for 60 days to students for new school-issued tablets, laptops and hotspots for homework and internet connectivity. That offer runs through May 23, 2020. Schools can also protect their students with free access to AT&T's AccessMyLAN security and filtering software. https://about.att.com/story/2020/covid_19_education.html

AlticeUSA (CT, NJ, NY): Offering broadband free until the end of the 2019-2020 school year to any new household in the service area with K-12 and/or college students lacking home internet access. https://www.alticeadvantageinternet.com/

Bristol Bay Telephone Cooperative (AK): Through May 31, offering its lowest level internet plan for free for people who do not currently have internet home access, including K-12 students and teachers. https://www.bristolbay.com/

Dubois Telephone Exchange (CO, WY): Coordinating with school districts to identify students in need of internet service and providing free installation and service to K-12 and college students through June 12. https://www.dteworld.com/covid-19-update/

Garden Valley Technologies (MN): Offering free internet service for families with Pre-K–12 students who currently do not have internet service. Providing free WiFi hotspots in the service area. https://www.gvtel.com/covid-19-update/

GCI (AK): Offering free internet service for students and teachers through May 31. Also offering free upgrades for existing customers and free service for new customers. Providing free WiFi hotspots in the service area. https://www.gci.com/covid-19

Hargray Communications (GA, SC): Offering free Internet service for 60 days to households in its service area with K-12 or college students who do not already have internet service. https://www.hargray.com/freeinternet

LCI Fiber Optic Network (ME): For customers who only have telephone, they will provide up to 10 Mbps internet for two months free. For non-customers, they will provide both telephone and internet (up to 10 Mbps) for two months free. https://lcifiber.net/

Lincolnville Telephone (ME): For customers who only have telephone, they will provide up to 10 Mbps internet for two months free. For non-customers, they will provide both telephone and internet (up to 10 Mbps) for two months free. https://lcifiber.net/

Pioneer Telephone Cooperative (OK): Offering free installation, free equipment and two months of free service to new customers. Providing free WiFi hotspots in the service area. https://gopioneer.com/covid19-response/

Range Telephone Cooperative (MT, WY): Coordinating with school districts to identify students in need of internet service and providing free installation and service to K-12 and college students through June 12. https://www.rangeweb.net/covid-19-update/

RT Communications (MT, SD, WY): Coordinating with school districts to identify students in need of internet service and providing free installation and service to K-12 and college students through June 12. https://www.rtcom.net/covid-19-update/

Valley Telephone Cooperative (TX): Offering free and discounted internet access to college students who have been affected in its Fixed Wireless service areas for 90 days. http://www.vtx1.net/covid-19-irp-students/

Yadkin Valley Telephone Company (NC): Providing free broadband internet and WiFi access for a minimum of 60 days to low-income households with K-12 or active college students who don't currently have a Yadtel subscription. https://www.yadtel.com/covid-19-update